Compensation for depth finders

ABSTRACT

System and methods for compensating a depth signal for a depth finder of a boat. In one embodiment, a compensation system is implemented between the depth finder and a transducer mounted on the boat. The compensation system receives a depth signal (i.e., a plurality of electrical impulses) from the transducer that directs sound waves toward the bottom of a body of water. The compensation system also monitors a change in elevation of the transducer, such as due to waves rocking the boat. The compensation system then compensates the depth signal based on the change in elevation, and provides the compensated depth signal to the depth finder.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional patent application is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/763,975 filed on Apr. 20, 2010,which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of depth finders or fish finders.

BACKGROUND

A depth finder (also referred to as a fish finder) uses active sonar todetect fish and the bottom of a body of water. The depth finder thendisplays them on a graphical display device, such as an LCD or CRTscreen. Depth finders generally operate by transmitting electricalimpulses to a transducer. The transducer converts the electricalimpulses into sound waves, and directs the sound waves into the water.When the sound waves strikes the bottom, a fish, or some other object,they are reflected back to the transducer. The transducer senses thereflected sound waves, converts the reflected sound waves intoelectrical impulses, and transmits electrical impulses back to the depthfinder. The depth finder then measures the amount of time between whenan electrical impulse was sent to the transducer and when an electricalimpulse was received back from the transducer to determine the depth ofthe object that was struck by the sound waves. This process is repeatedseveral times per second so that the depth finder is able to determineand display the bottom of the water, fish, and other objects.

One problem with present depth finders is that an accurate depth readingis not obtained when the transducer is rising and falling due to roughwater. It is common for boats to operate in rough water (e.g., waves inexcess of 2 feet). When waves on the water reach 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet,or even more, the boat rocks on the waves. With the transducer mountedon the boat, the transducer rises and falls as the boat rocks on thewaves. When the transducer moves in this manner, the depth reading willrise and fall along with the transducer, which results in a bottomreading that is inaccurate and difficult to read.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provided herein compensate for an inaccurate depth readingwhen a transducer is rising and falling. A compensation system may beimplemented between the transducer and the depth finder. Thecompensation system receives a depth signal (i.e., a plurality ofelectrical impulses) from the transducer. The compensation system alsomonitors a change in elevation of the transducer, such as due to waves.The compensation system then compensates the depth signal based on thechange in elevation, and provides the compensated depth signal to thedepth finder. This advantageously results in a bottom reading that ismore accurate even when the transducer is rising and falling along withwaves.

Another exemplary embodiment comprises an enclosure, a first connectorthat protrudes through the enclosure and is configured to connect to atransducer via a first cable, a second connector that protrudes throughthe enclosure and is configured to connect to a depth finder via asecond cable, and a compensation circuit electrically connected to thefirst and second connectors. The compensation circuit is configured toreceive a sense signal from the depth finder, and to provide the sensesignal to the transducer. The compensation circuit is further configuredto receive a depth signal from the transducer that directs sound pulsestoward the bottom of a body of water based on the sense signal anddetects reflections of the sound pulses, to determine a change inelevation of the transducer, to convert the change in elevation to atime-based correction factor, to adjust the depth signal received fromthe transducer based on the time-based correction factor to compensatefor the change in elevation of the transducer, and to provide thecompensated depth signal to the depth finder for displaying an image ofthe bottom of the body of water.

Another embodiment is an apparatus comprising an enclosure, a firstconnector that protrudes through the enclosure and is configured toconnect to a transducer via a first cable, a second connector thatprotrudes through the enclosure and is configured to connect to a depthfinder via a second cable, and a compensation circuit electricallyconnected to the first and second connectors. The compensation circuitis configured to receive a sense signal from the depth finder, and toprovide the sense signal to the transducer. The compensation circuit isfurther configured to receive a depth signal from the transducer, todetermine a change in elevation of the transducer, to compensate thedepth signal based on the change in elevation of the transducer, and toprovide the compensated depth signal to the depth finder.

Other exemplary embodiments may be described below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention are now described, by way ofexample only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The samereference number represents the same element or the same type of elementon all drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a boat operating on a body of water.

FIG. 2 illustrates a depth finder and transducer installed on a boat.

FIG. 3 illustrates a transducer mounted on a trolling motor.

FIG. 4 illustrates a display of a depth finder showing a bottom reading.

FIG. 5 illustrates a compensation system in an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a compensation system in an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method of compensating a depthsignal in an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates graphs showing how a depth signal may be adjusted inan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a display of a depth finder showing a bottom readingin an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a stand-alone compensation system in an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a compensation system in an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates a stand-alone compensation system used with anexternal elevation sensor in an exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The figures and the following description illustrate specific exemplaryembodiments of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that thoseskilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that,although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principlesof the invention and are included within the scope of the invention.Furthermore, any examples described herein are intended to aid inunderstanding the principles of the invention, and are to be construedas being without limitation to such specifically recited examples andconditions. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specificembodiments or examples described below, but by the claims and theirequivalents.

FIG. 1 illustrates a boat 100 operating on a body of water. The purposeof this figure is to show that boat 100 is operating in waves. Due tothe waves, boat 100 will rock up and down as illustrated by the arrows.FIG. 2 illustrates a depth finder 200 and transducer 202 installed onboat 100. Depth finder 200 represents any device operable to detect abottom surface of a body of water using sonar. Depth finder 200 is alsooperable to detect fish or other objects, and thus may also be referredto as a fish finder. Some examples of depth finder 200 are unitsproduced by Lowrance Electronics, Humminbird, etc.

Depth finder 200 is connected to transducer 202 by a transducer cable204. Transducer 202 may be mounted on boat 100 in a variety oflocations. In FIG. 2, transducer 202 is mounted on the transom of boat100. However, transducer 202 may alternatively be mounted on the bottomof the trolling motor 102 (as illustrated in FIG. 3) or mounted in otherlocations.

When in operation, a transmitter (not shown) within depth finder 200transmits electrical impulses to transducer 202 over cable 204 (see FIG.2). The electrical impulses sent from depth finder 200 to transducer 202may be referred to as a sense signal. Transducer 202 receives theimpulses and converts the impulses into sound waves or sound pulses.Transducer 202 then directs the sound waves into the water. When thesound waves strike the bottom (or a fish or some other object), thesound waves are reflected back and detected by transducer 202. Whentransducer 202 senses the reflected sound waves, it converts the soundwaves into electrical impulses and transmits the electrical impulsesback to depth finder 200 over cable 204. The electrical impulses sentfrom transducer 202 to depth finder 200 may be referred to as a depthsignal. Depth finder 200 then measures the amount of time between whenthe electrical impulses were sent to transducer 202 and when theelectrical impulses were received back from transducer 202 to determinethe depth of the object(s) that was struck by the sound waves. Thisprocess is repeated several times per second so that depth finder 200 isable to determine and display the bottom of the water.

In the embodiments described herein, depth finder 200 (and itsassociated systems) and transducer 202 may be configured for traditionalsonar-type operation, or may be configured for side-imaging and/orbottom imaging. Side-imaging and bottom imaging provides picture-likeimages of the bottom of a body of water and any objects. Therefore,depth finder 200 may transmit a sense signal to transducer 202 that isused for side-imaging and/or bottom imaging. Likewise, transducer 202may transmit a depth signal to depth finder 200 that is used forside-imaging and/or bottom imaging.

FIG. 4 illustrates a display of depth finder 200. The screen of depthfinder 200 shows a bottom reading illustrated by line 402. The screen ofdepth finder 200 also displays fish 404 that are a detected. One problemwith the bottom reading 402 in FIG. 4 is that the reading oscillates.For example, the bottom reading is oscillating between about 15 feet and19 feet. The cause of this oscillation is that boat 100 (see FIG. 1) isoperating in rough water. When boat 100 rocks on the waves, thetransducer 202 rises and falls with the waves. The rise and fall of thetransducer 202 causes an oscillating bottom reading that is difficult toread.

The embodiments provided herein solve this problem by compensating thebottom reading. FIG. 5 illustrates a compensation system 500 in anexemplary embodiment. Compensation system 500 is connected between depthfinder 200 and transducer 202. Compensation system 500 may beimplemented as a stand alone device as illustrated in FIG. 5. In otherembodiments, compensation system 500 may be integrated within depthfinder 200, transducer 202, or both.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of compensation system 500 in an exemplaryembodiment. Compensation system 500 includes a control system 602 and anelevation sensor 604. Control system 602 comprises any device,component, or function operable to modify, change, or adjust a depthsignal from a transducer. Elevation sensor 604 comprises any device orcomponent operable to determine a change in elevation, height, oraltitude of an object. Elevation sensor 604 may comprise any type ofdesired sensor. As one example, elevation sensor 604 may comprise a GPSdevice that is able to determine an elevation with an acceptableaccuracy. In another embodiment, elevation sensor 604 may comprise analtitude sensor. However, a designer may choose many other types ofsensors for elevation sensor 604.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method 700 of compensating a depthsignal in an exemplary embodiment. The steps of method 700 will bedescribed with reference to compensation system 500 in FIGS. 5-6,although method 700 may be performed in other systems. The steps of theflow charts described herein are not all inclusive and may include othersteps not shown. The steps may also be performed in an alternativeorder.

In step 702, control system 602 receives a depth signal from transducer202. As stated above, transducer 202 directs sound waves toward thebottom of a body of water. Transducer 202 detects the sound waves thatare reflected, and generates electrical impulses responsive to detectingthe reflected sound waves. The depth signal thus comprises theelectrical impulses generated by transducer 202.

In step 704, elevation sensor 604 monitors or determines a change inelevation of transducer 202. Elevation sensor 604 may monitor a changein elevation of transducer 202 in a variety of ways. In one embodiment,elevation sensor 604 determines a normalized or average elevation oftransducer 202. Having the normalized elevation, elevation sensor 604may then measure an elevation of transducer 202 at any given time.Elevation sensor 604 may then compare the measured elevation to thenormalized elevation to determine the change in elevation at any giventime. If the measured elevation is greater than the normalizedelevation, then there has been a rise in transducer 202. If the measuredelevation is less than the normalized elevation, then there has been afall in transducer 202. For example, as transducer 202 rises and fallsdue to waves, elevation sensor 604 monitors how much transducer 202rises and falls. Assume that the normalized elevation of transducer 202is elevation_(norm). At any given time, elevation sensor 604 may measurean elevation (elevation_(measured)), and compare the measured elevationto the normalized elevation. The change in elevation(elevation_(change))=elevation_(measured)−elevation_(norm). Ifelevation_(change)>0, then there is a rise in transducer 202. Ifelevation_(change)<0, then there is a fall in transducer 202. Thesecalculations may be done continually, such as several times per second,so that the change in elevation of transducer 202 may be determined atany time.

In another embodiment, elevation sensor 604 may estimate the change inelevation of transducer 202 based on a number of factors. For example,elevation sensor 604 may determine how much boat 100 is rocking, and mayestimate the change in elevation of transducer 202 accordingly.Elevation sensor 604 may estimate the change in elevation of transducer202 based on the speed of the wind. Elevation sensor 604 may estimatethe change in elevation of transducer 202 based on the speed of boat100. Elevation sensor 604 may estimate the change in elevation oftransducer 202 based on the length of the boat. There may be many otherfactors used to estimate how much the elevation of transducer 202changes due to waves.

In step 706, control system 602 compensates the depth signal based onthe change in elevation of transducer 202. In one embodiment, controlsystem 602 converts the change in elevation to a correction factor, suchas a time-based correction factor. For example, a change in elevationmay be in feet, and control system 602 may convert the change inelevation in feet to a millisecond, nanosecond, or some other time-basedcorrection factor. Control system 602 then adjusts the depth signalbased on the correction factor to generate the compensated depth signal.One example of adjusting the depth signal is illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 illustrates graphs showing how a depth signal may be adjusted inan exemplary embodiment. The top graph 802 represents the sense signalthat is sent from depth finder 200 to transducer 202. The sense signalcomprises a plurality of electrical impulses at a frequency, such as 200kHz. The middle graph 804 represents the depth signal that is sent fromtransducer 202 to depth finder 200. If there is no compensation of thedepth signal, depth finder 200 would calculate a depth based on the timedifference (Δtime1) between impulses of the sense signal and impulses ofthe depth signal.

The bottom graph 806 represents the compensated depth signal. Assumethat elevation sensor 604 has determined that there is a fall intransducer 202. In other words, the measured elevation is less than thenormalized elevation. When this occurs, control system 602 may delay thedepth signal for a time period, which is known as a phase shift. Theamount of delay depends on the magnitude of the change in elevation oftransducer 202. For example, a change in elevation of 4 feet results ina delay that is greater than if the change was 2 feet. Also, the delayand corresponding phase shift will vary in time. As the change inelevation varies over a time period, the phase shift of the depth signalwill likewise vary. The delay added to the depth signal compensates forthe fall in elevation of transducer 202 and generates the compensateddepth signal. Thus, depth finder 200 calculates a depth based on thetime difference (Δtime2) between impulses of the sense signal andimpulses of the compensated depth signal, which is a more accuratereading.

If there were to be a rise in transducer 202, then control system 602may advance the next depth signal in time (assuming there is some typeof buffering for the signal).

In step 708 of FIG. 7, control system 602 provides the compensated depthsignal to depth finder 200. Method 700 is continually repeated so thatthe depth signal is compensated as transducer 202 rises and falls. Depthfinder 200 is then able to display a bottom reading based on thecompensated depth signal. FIG. 9 illustrates a bottom reading in anexemplary embodiment. The screen of depth finder 200 shows a bottomreading illustrated by line 902. The screen of depth finder 200 alsodisplays fish 904 that are detected. Due to the compensated depthsignal, the bottom reading more accurately represents the bottom of thebody of water. As a comparison to FIG. 4 (uncompensated), the bottomreading 402 of FIG. 4 oscillates and does not truly represent the bottomof the body of water. In FIG. 9, the bottom reading 902 does notoscillate and is not affected by the rise and fall of transducer 202.Even though transducer 202 may be rising and falling several feet, thebottom reading 902 is still accurate due to the compensation of thedepth signal. This is advantageous to the user of depth finder 200, asthe bottom reading 902 is accurate no matter how rough the water may be.

As stated above, compensation system 500 may be a stand-alone devicethat is installed between depth finder 200 and transducer 202. FIG. 10illustrates a stand-alone compensation system 1000 in an exemplaryembodiment. Compensation system 1000 includes an enclosure 1002 thathouses the circuitry for compensating the depth signal. Enclosure 1002may be water-proof to protect the circuitry housed within. System 1000further includes a connector 1004 that protrudes through enclosure 1002and is configured to connect to transducer 202 via a cable (not shown).System 1000 further includes a connector 1006 that protrudes throughenclosure 1002 and is configured to connect to depth finder 200 via acable (not shown). Connectors 1004 and 1006 may be NMEA compliant, aswell as the cabling used to connect system 1000 to depth finder 200 andtransducer 202. System 1000 may thus retrofit to an existing depthfinder and transducer that is mounted on a boat.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of compensation system 1000 in an exemplaryembodiment. This view shows the internal circuitry of system 1000. Thecircuitry includes connectors 1004 and 1006, and a compensation circuit1102 electrically connected to connectors 1004 and 1006. Compensationcircuit 1102 is configured to receive a sense signal from depth finder200, and to provide the sense signal to transducer 202 (see also FIG.2). Compensation circuit 1102 is further configured to receive a depthsignal from transducer 202, to determine a change in elevation oftransducer 202 (such as through an elevation sensor), to convert thechange in elevation to a correction factor (e.g., time-based), and toadjust the depth signal received from transducer 202 based on thecorrection factor. This compensates for the change in elevation oftransducer 202. Compensation circuit 1102 is further configured toprovide the compensated depth signal to depth finder 200. Depth finder200 may then display an image of the bottom of the body of water.

An elevation sensor used conjunction with compensation system 1000 maybe internal or external. FIG. 12 illustrates a stand-alone compensationsystem 1000 used with an external elevation sensor in an exemplaryembodiment. If the elevation sensor is external to compensation system1000, then compensation system 1000 may further include a connector 1208that protrudes through enclosure 1002 and is configured to connect tothe elevation sensor via a cable (not shown). When the elevation sensoris external, it may be connected anywhere on the boat to provide thebest measurements.

Any of the various elements shown in the figures or described herein maybe implemented as hardware, software, firmware, or some combination ofthese. For example, an element may be implemented as dedicated hardware.Dedicated hardware elements may be referred to as “processors”,“controllers”, or some similar terminology. When provided by aprocessor, the functions may be provided by a single dedicatedprocessor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of individualprocessors, some of which may be shared. Moreover, explicit use of theterm “processor” or “controller” should not be construed to referexclusively to hardware capable of executing software, and mayimplicitly include, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP)hardware, a network processor, application specific integrated circuit(ASIC) or other circuitry, field programmable gate array (FPGA), readonly memory (ROM) for storing software, random access memory (RAM), nonvolatile storage, logic, or some other physical hardware component ormodule.

Also, an element may be implemented as instructions executable by aprocessor or a computer to perform the functions of the element. Someexamples of instructions are software, program code, and firmware. Theinstructions are operational when executed by the processor to directthe processor to perform the functions of the element. The instructionsmay be stored on storage devices that are readable by the processor.Some examples of the storage devices are digital or solid-statememories, magnetic storage media such as a magnetic disks and magnetictapes, hard drives, or optically readable digital data storage media.

Although specific embodiments were described herein, the scope of theinvention is not limited to those specific embodiments. The scope of theinvention is defined by the following claims and any equivalentsthereof.

1. An apparatus comprising: a compensation system configured to receivea signal from a transducer that directs sound pulses toward the bottomof a body of water and detects reflections of the sound pulses, todetermine a change in elevation of the transducer, to convert the changein elevation to a time-based correction factor, to adjust the signalreceived from the transducer based on the time-based correction factorto compensate for the change in elevation of the transducer, and toprovide the compensated signal to a depth finder that displays an imageof the bottom of the body of water.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:the compensation system is further configured to delay at least oneimpulse of the signal from the transducer to compensate for a fall inelevation of the transducer.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: thecompensation system is further configured to advance at least oneimpulse of the signal from the transducer to compensate for a rise inelevation of the transducer.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: thesignal received from the transducer comprises a side-imaging signal. 5.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the signal received from thetransducer comprises a down-imaging signal.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1wherein: the compensation system is housed in a water-proof enclosure.7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: a first connector thatprotrudes through the enclosure and is configured to connect to a cableattached to the transducer; and a second connector that protrudesthrough the enclosure and is configured to connect to a cable attachedto the depth finder.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: the first andsecond connectors are NMEA compliant.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7further comprising: a third connector that protrudes through theenclosure and is configured to connect to an external elevation sensorthat detects elevation changes of the transducer.
 10. An apparatuscomprising: an enclosure; a first connector that protrudes through theenclosure and is configured to connect to a transducer via a firstcable; a second connector that protrudes through the enclosure and isconfigured to connect to a depth finder via a second cable; and acompensation circuit electrically connected to the first and secondconnectors; wherein the compensation circuit is configured to receive asense signal from the depth finder, and to provide the sense signal tothe transducer; wherein the compensation circuit is further configuredto receive a depth signal from the transducer that directs sound pulsestoward the bottom of a body of water based on the sense signal anddetects reflections of the sound pulses, to determine a change inelevation of the transducer, to convert the change in elevation to atime-based correction factor, to adjust the depth signal received fromthe transducer based on the time-based correction factor to compensatefor the change in elevation of the transducer, and to provide thecompensated depth signal to the depth finder for displaying an image ofthe bottom of the body of water.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:the compensation circuit is further configured to delay at least oneimpulse of the depth signal from the transducer to compensate for a fallin elevation of the transducer.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:the compensation system is further configured to advance at least oneimpulse of the depth signal from the transducer to compensate for a risein elevation of the transducer.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:the depth signal received from the transducer comprises a side-imagingsignal.
 14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein: the depth signal receivedfrom the transducer comprises a down-imaging signal.
 15. The apparatusof claim 10 wherein: the enclosure is water-proof.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 10 wherein: the first and second connectors are NMEA compliant.17. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising: a third connector thatprotrudes through the enclosure and is configured to connect to anexternal elevation sensor that detects elevation changes of thetransducer.
 18. An apparatus comprising: an enclosure; a first connectorthat protrudes through the enclosure and is configured to connect to atransducer via a first cable; a second connector that protrudes throughthe enclosure and is configured to connect to a depth finder via asecond cable; and a compensation circuit electrically connected to thefirst and second connectors; wherein the compensation circuit isconfigured to receive a sense signal from the depth finder, and toprovide the sense signal to the transducer; wherein the compensationcircuit is further configured to receive a depth signal from thetransducer, to determine a change in elevation of the transducer, tocompensate the depth signal based on the change in elevation of thetransducer, and to provide the compensated depth signal to the depthfinder.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein: the depth signal receivedfrom the transducer comprises a side-imaging signal.
 20. The apparatusof claim 18 wherein: the depth signal received from the transducercomprises a down-imaging signal.